Chapter 140 Deep Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter 140 Deep Behind Enemy Lines

Although the victory at Huifeng Valley temporarily stabilized the situation at Yanmen Pass, Pei Yunjing knew very well that this was just a respite before the storm.

Two days later, in the central command tent.

In front of the huge sand table, Pei Yunjing's command flag hovered over a strategic pass in the heart of the Northern Rong territory—the Helan Mountain Granary.

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Tie Kui stared at the location, waving his one arm anxiously: "That's the rear of the Northern Rong! It's a full five hundred li away from Yanmen Pass! In between lies a vast snowfield and countless enemy outposts. If we venture too far in alone, and are surrounded, it's certain death!"

Other generals also tried to dissuade him:

"Yes, Your Highness! All we need to do now is hold our ground and wait until spring. When the Northern Rong run out of supplies, they will naturally retreat!"

"hold fast?"

Pei Yunjing sneered and slammed the command flag into the sand table.

"The Northern Rong people are like wolves; the hungrier they are, the fiercer they become. By the time spring arrives, the people of Dasheng will have already been robbed clean."

He turned around, his gaze piercing, revealing a resolute determination to survive even in the face of death.

"To hold out is to wait for death."

"Only by attacking can we survive."

"With the Northern Rong army pressing in, our rear must be vulnerable. As long as we burn the grain supplies in Helan Mountain, Tuoba Xiao's 200,000-strong army will be nothing but a pack of toothless tigers, collapsing without a fight!"

The generals remained silent.

Everyone understands the logic, but who would go? It's practically suicide.

"I will go myself."

Pei Yunjing spoke calmly, sending chills down everyone's spines.

"Take only one hundred elite troops. Advance with light cavalry and finish the battle quickly."

Before the crowd could kneel and plead their case, Pei Yunjing waved his hand and said, "All of you, step back. My mind is made up."

After the generals left, only Tang Li remained in the tent.

She was sitting by the charcoal brazier roasting oranges when she heard this, and almost dropped the oranges into the fire.

"You also think I've gone mad?"

Pei Yunjing walked over and sat down next to her, took the orange from her hand, slowly peeled it, and then put a segment into her mouth.

"A little."

Tang Li chewed on an orange and nodded honestly: "Five hundred miles of snowfield, that's risking your life."

"Yeah, risking your life."

Pei Yunjing stared at the flickering flames, his expression unreadable.

In the past, he would have set off without hesitation. But now, he has someone to care about.

He turned his head and looked at the little woman beside him who was squinting her eyes, enjoying the sweet and sour taste of an orange.

She was his medicine, and also his weakness.

He wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her in the military camp if he left her there. Taking her with him, however, would be a near-certain death.

"Tangli".

Pei Yunjing suddenly spoke, his voice low but carrying an unprecedented solemnity:

"This time, I will give you the right to choose."

He extended his hand, palm up, and offered it to her:

"You can stay at Yanmen Pass. Tie Kui will protect you with his life until I return."

"or……"

Pei Yunjing's gaze was fixed on her eyes, where a barely perceptible hint of nervousness and anticipation was hidden:

"Come with me to venture into that dragon's den and tiger's lair."

"There are no earth dragons or soft caves there, only wind and snow, slaughter, and the danger of losing your head at any moment."

"Do you... dare to?"

This is an invitation.

It was not the regent's order to the queen, but a man's life-or-death challenge to his partner.

Tang Li looked at the hand. It was covered with calluses from years of wielding a sword, as well as fresh wounds from saving her a few days ago.

Going might mean death. Staying might allow me to survive.

If it were when she had just transmigrated, Tang Li would definitely have chosen to cling to a powerful figure and hide in the back without hesitation.

But now...

"Tsk."

Tang Li swallowed the orange in her mouth and patted the dust off her hands.

She didn't hesitate at all, nor did she act coy in the slightest.

She reached out and slapped Pei Yunjing's palm hard, making a crisp "smack" sound.

"What is there to be afraid of?"

Tang Li raised her chin, her eyes crinkling with laughter, like a naive little fox:

"I've heard that the roasted whole lamb in Beirong is exceptional, as is the mare's milk wine. I've wanted to try it for a long time."

"Perfect timing, Your Highness, take me to beg for alms, and while we're at it... burn down their granaries for some fun?"

At that moment, there was no fear in her eyes.

Only trust in him and a sense of openness that says, "Wherever you go, I'll go."

Pei Yunjing looked at her, and as he looked at her, he suddenly smiled.

He suddenly tightened his fingers, firmly enveloping her hand in his palm, with such force that it seemed as if he wanted to fuse their bones and blood together.

"good."

"Then let's go eat roast whole lamb."

“Smash their pots, steal their meat, and give it to my queen as an extra meal.”

...

The next morning, before dawn.

A small team of one hundred people left Yanmen Pass without making a sound.

They carried no flags, and were all dressed in white camouflage cloaks, blending into the vast snowfield.

On the lead black horse, Pei Yunjing held Tang Li wrapped in his arms.

The two rode together on a single horse, braving the biting north wind, and charged into the unknown enemy-occupied battlefield.